百里挑一 bǎi lǐ tiāo yī one in a hundred

Explanation

比喻在众多人或事物中挑选出最优秀的一个。

A metaphor for choosing the best one from many people or things.

Origin Story

话说，贾宝玉中了举人，可不知所踪，家人上下都找不到他，心里都很着急，觉得希望渺茫。为了打发时间，他们就把宝玉房里伺候的丫鬟，除了伺候薛宝钗的以外，其他都遣散了出去。袭人哥哥花自芳担心妹妹孤苦无依，就为她找了个百里挑一的女婿蒋玉菡，并派嫂子到贾府接袭人回家。袭人一心不想嫁人，但哥哥的话她不得不听，最后还是同意了嫁给蒋玉菡。

huà shuō, jiǎ bǎo yù zhōng le jǔ rén, kě bù zhī suǒ zōng, jiā rén shàng xià dōu zhǎo bù dào tā, xīn lǐ dōu hěn zháo jí, jué de xī wàng miǎo máng. wèi le dǎ fā shí jiān, tā men jiù bǎ bǎo yù fáng lǐ sì hòu de yā huán, chú le sì hòu xuē bǎo chāi de yǐ wài, qí tā dōu qiǎn sàn le chū qù. xí rén gē ge huā zì fāng dān xīn mèi mei gū kǔ wú yī, jiù wèi tā zhǎo le gè bǎi lǐ tiāo yī de nǚ xù jiǎng yù hán, bìng pài sǎo zi dào jiǎ fǔ jiē xí rén huí jiā. xí rén yī xīn bù xiǎng jià rén, dàn gē ge de huà tā bù děi bù tīng, zuì hòu hái shì tóng yì le jià gěi jiǎng yù hán.

It is said that after Jia Baoyu passed the civil service examination, he disappeared without a trace. His family searched everywhere for him, but to no avail. They were very worried and had little hope left. To pass the time, they sent away all the maidservants from Baoyu's room except those who served Xue Baochai. Xi'ren's brother, Hua Zifang, was worried about his sister and found a man for her who was perfect in every way - a man in a thousand - and he found him in Jiang Yuhan. He sent his wife to Jia's family to pick up Xi'ren. Xi'ren did not want to marry, but she couldn't disobey her brother and finally agreed to marry Jiang Yuhan.

Usage

这个成语常用来形容一个人才出众，在人群中脱颖而出。

zhè ge chéng yǔ cháng yòng lái xíng róng yī gè rén cái chū zhòng, zài rén qún zhōng tuō yǐng ér chū.

This idiom is often used to describe a person who is talented and stands out from the crowd.

Examples

  • 他就是个百里挑一的人才，我们要好好珍惜。

    tā jiù shì gè bǎi lǐ tiāo yī de rén cái, wǒ men yào hǎo hǎo zhēn xī.

    He is a rare talent, we should cherish him.

  • 这个项目需要百里挑一的团队，我们一定要精挑细选。

    zhè ge xiàng mù xū yào bǎi lǐ tiāo yī de tuán duì, wǒ men yī dìng yào jīng tiāo xì xuǎn.

    This project requires a top-notch team, we must be very selective.

Related Idioms

  • 数一数二

  • 凤毛麟角

  • 出类拔萃

Opposite Idioms

  • 比比皆是

  • 多如牛毛